Mr. Myers has spent 19 years with Zions and was formerly executive vice president of human resources for Zions Bancorp’s largest affiliate bank, $15 billion Zions Bank. Immediately prior to joining Golden 1, he served as EVP, director of employee services, at $55 billion Zions Bancorp.

“George represents the optimal blend of business leader who sees the business through the lens of HR,” said Mr. Biegenzahn. “His track record of success positions him perfectly to establish Golden 1’s HR department as a strategic group which drives significant value to the organization, within the context of its rich culture of trust and commitment to service.”

Golden 1 serves its nearly 800,000 members through 80 branches, and over 30,000 co-op ATMs nationwide, providing a suite of consumer finance products, services, and solutions. The company currently has 1,600 employees.

The role of the CHRO has changed dramatically over the years, say recruiters specializing in the sector. Once a mid-level staff position, the head of human resources today sits at the elbow of the CEO and maintains one of the most influential positions within senior management. The job now plays an integral, strategic part in driving a company forward.

“CHROs have become critical stakeholders in defining the strategy of a company, and they are expected to tackle the HR challenges and evolving expectations of a dynamic workplace environment that will consist of constant change, calculated risk taking and evolving expectations from top stakeholders,” said Neil Shastri, leader for global insights & innovation at Aon Hewitt. “Those well-equipped to achieve the greatest success will have diverse skill sets, be adaptable and agile, and gain hands-on learning from working through real life situations and acquiring knowledge across disciplines and industries.”

Hunt Scanlon has reported on several executive search firms placing CHROs in recent months. Here’s a sampling of just a few: